Shrub Rose Plant Named &#39;Meizorland&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct shrub rose plant is provided that abundantly and substantially continuously forms in clusters attractive cup-shaped very double white blossoms that clean well upon full maturity. The plant exhibits a vigorous compact and spreading ground cover growth habit. The foliage is medium green with a semi-glossy finish on the upper surface. The white blossom coloration contrasts nicely with the medium green foliage. The disease resistance during observations to date has been observed to be excellent, particularly with respect to black spot, rust, and powdery mildew. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination:

cv. Meizorland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant of the present invention was discovered as a branch mutation during 2011 at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., while growing in a plant nursery setting tended by man among asexually propagated plants of the ‘Meiwetdom’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,612). The cansation of the mutation is unknown. Had the mutation not been discovered and preserved it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms in clusters         attractive cup-shaped very double white blossoms that clean well         upon full maturity,     -   (b) exhibits a vigorous compact and spreading ground cover         growth habit,     -   (c) forms attractive medium green foliage with a semi-glossy         finish on the upper surface that contrasts well with the white         blossom coloration,     -   (d) exhibits excellent disease resistance particularly with         respect to black spot, rust, and powdery mildew, and     -   (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in         the landscape.

A new rose variety is provided having attractive very double white blossoms, a ground cover growth habit, and excellent disease resistance.

The new variety develops well on its own roots following asexual propagation and well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as an ornamental ground cover in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. It serves well as a mass planting or can be grown in containers where attractive ornamentation is desired.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its parent ‘Meiswetdom’ variety upon an inspection of the blossoms. More specification, the ‘Meiswetdom’ variety displays dissimilar blossoms having a medium pink coloration.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readily distinguished from other shrub rose plants including the ‘Meigalpio’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,877), the ‘Meijocos’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,874), the ‘Meiggili’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,542), and the ‘Meidrifora’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,148). For instance, the ‘Meigalpio’ variety forms small brilliant red-pink blossoms, the ‘Meijocos’ variety forms deep pink blossoms with fewer petals, the ‘Meiggili’ variety forms bright peach blossoms, and the ‘Meidrifora’ variety forms deep coral-orange blossoms.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Wasco, Calif., U.S.A., and at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible from one generation to another by asexual propagation through the rooting of cuttings. Accordingly, the new variety reproduces in a true-to-type manner by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Meizorland’, and is being marketed under the WHITE DRIFT Trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, flowering specimens of the new variety. The illustrated rose plants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observed during September 2013 while growing on their own roots in the ground of Wasco, Calif., U.S.A.

FIG. 1—illustrates a close enlarged view of the attractive cup-shaped double white blossoms with a newly-opened blossom being shown at the top and a mature fully-opened blossom at the bottom, and

FIG. 2—illustrates a row of abundantly flowing plants together with nicely contrasting medium green foliage in a plant nursery setting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995 Edition or equivalent), London, England. The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of the new variety during May while growing in containers on their own roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose. Variety Meizorland. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—commonly approach approximately 45 cm on average at             maturity.         -   Width.—commonly approach approximately 75 cm on average at             maturity.         -   Habit.—compact and spreading bushy ground cover. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—near Green Group 137C on young stems, and commonly             near Green Group 137B on old wood.         -   Length.—commonly main stems approximately 10 cm on average,             and secondary stems approximately 17.5 cm on average.         -   Thorns.—size: commonly approximately 9 mm in length on             average and approximately 5 mm in width on average at the             point of attachment when young, and approximately 7 mm in             length on average and approximately 5 mm in width on average             at the point of attachment when mature. — color: commonly             near Greyed-Red Group 181B on young stems, and near Brown             Group 200B when mature. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—commonly approximately 8 cm in length on average, and             approximately 6 cm in width on average for a five-leaflet             leaf.         -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5, 7, and 9. — length: approximately 4             cm on average for a terminal leaflet, and approximately 2 cm             on average for a lower leaflet. — width: approximately 2 cm             on average for a terminal leaflet, and approximately 1 cm on             average for a lower leaflet. — shape: ovate. — margins:             serrate. — texture: generally glabrous on the upper surface,             and smooth on the under surface. — overall appearance:             attractive medium green leaves with a semi-glossy upper             surface. — color: (when young): upper surface: near             Yellow-Green Group 144A. under surface: near Green Group             143C. — color (when fully mature): upper surface: near Green             Group 137A. under surface: near Green Group 137C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly in clusters of approximately 10             to 15 blossoms per stem, and up to approximately 120             blossoms per plant at a time.         -   Peduncle.—near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration,             commonly approximately 3 cm in length on average,             approximately 1.5 mm in diameter on average, and smooth with             short pubescence.         -   Sepals.—upper surface: commonly smooth covered with short             pubescence, and commonly near Green Group 138B in             coloration. under surface: commonly smooth, and commonly             near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. — size: commonly             approximately 1.5 cm in length on average, and approximately             5 mm in width at the base. — number: five. — margin: entire             commonly with extensions on two or three sepals measuring             approximately 4 mm in length on average and approximately             0.5 mm in width on average.         -   Buds.—shape: generally ovoid. — length: approximately 1.2 cm             on average as the calyx breaks. diameter: approximately 7 mm             on average as the calyx breaks. — color: near White Group             155A towards the apex and blending to Green-Yellow Group 1D             at the base.         -   Flower.—form: very-double, cuplike. — diameter: commonly             approximately 3 cm on average when fully open. — color (when             opening begins): upper surface: near White Group 155A             transitioning to near Green-Yellow Group 1D at the point of             attachment. under surface: near White Group 155A             transitioning to near Green-Yellow Group 1D at the point of             attachment. — color (at end of blooming): upper surface:             near White Group 155B transitioning to White Group 155D at             the point of attachment. — under surface: near White Group             155B transitioning to White Group 155A at the point of             attachment. — fragrance: none noticeable. — petal number:             commonly approximately 80 on average under normal growing             conditions. — petal length: commonly approximately 1.8 cm on             average. — petal width: commonly approximately 1.2 cm on             average. — petal shape: obcordate. — petal margin: entire,             and rounded. — petal apex: obcordate. — petal base: rounded.             — petal drop: good, the petals commonly detach cleanly and             freely drop upon full maturity. — stamen number:             approximately 75 on average. — anthers: commonly near             Yellow-Orange Group 17A in coloration. — filaments:             approximately 7 mm in length, and the coloration is near             Yellow Group 3A. —pollen: none observed. — pistils: separate             and free, and commonly number approximately 20 on average. —             styles: commonly approximately 4 mm in length, and near             Green-White Group 157B in coloration. — stigma: commonly             approximately 1 mm in size, and near Green-Yellow Group 1C             in coloration. — receptacle: commonly narrowly ovoid in             shape, approximately 4 mm in diameter, smooth in texture,             near Green Group 139C in coloration, and with achenes             commonly being present on the bottom and wall. — hips/seeds:             none available for observation. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—medium green, vigorous, and strong.         -   Blossoming.—abundant and substantially, continuous from             spring to frost.         -   Resistance to diseases.—excellent, particularly with respect             to black spot, rust, and powdery mildew. Plants of the             ‘Meizorland’ variety have not been observed under all             possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it             is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat             with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural             practices, and other environmental conditions. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms in clusters attractive cup-shaped very double white blossoms that clean well upon full maturity, (b) exhibits a vigorous compact and spreading ground cover growth habit, (c) forms attractive medium green foliage with a semi-glossy finish on the upper surface that contrasts well with the white blossom coloration, (d) exhibits excellent disease resistance particularly with respect to black spot, rust, and powdery mildew, and (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as herein shown and described. 